page_title: Newport, Pembrokeshire
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Newport, Pembrokeshire / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Castell Drefdraeth/Newport castle in summertime The view up from the crossroads at the top of Market Street shows how the castle dominates the small town below. Its melding of mediaeval and Victorian architecture gives it a curious and romantic appearance. Although it dates back originally to C13 there was considerable destruction and rebuilding over the centuries until Thomas Lloyd of Bronwydd grafted a dwelling house on to the ruins. The castle remains in private hands and is not open to the public.
context_page_description: Newport is a town, parish, community, electoral ward and ancient port of Parrog, on the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales at the mouth of the River Nevern in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
  A popular tourist destination, Newport town straddles the Fishguard to Cardigan road, while the old port area hosts beach, water and other activities.
context_section_description: The town was founded by the Norman William FitzMartin (c.1155-1209) in about 1197. He was a son-in-law of the Lord Rhys, who nevertheless expelled him from his former base at nearby Nevern, which had been established by his father Robert fitz Martin. William founded Newport as the new capital of the Marcher Lordship of Cemais and it was a busy port founded primarily on the growing medieval wool trade. Despite seizure from the native Welsh, it remained within the FitzMartin family until the death of William, the 2nd Lord Martin, who died without a male heir in 1326.
  Newport Castle, built by FitzMartin, is situated on a spur of Carn Ingli which overlooks Newport and much of the surrounding countryside. Though in ruins since at least the 17th century, it is impressive due to its situation; a house incorporating the castle walls, which faces west over the town, the bay and the Irish Sea, is still inhabited.
  In the town is a significant mediaeval pottery kiln from the 15th century, believed to be the only intact example in Britain; finds include jugs, pots, ridge tiles and distilling equipment. Excavation was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2017.
  Newport appears prominently on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire, and is a former marcher borough.  George Owen of Henllys, in 1603, described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.  It retains some of the borough customs such as electing a mayor, who beats the bounds on horseback every August.
  In the 1880s the castle was associated with John Brett, who rented it for his large family while he spent summers cruising the south and west coasts of Wales painting, sketching and photographing. He moored his 210-ton schooner, Viking (which had a crew of twelve) at Parrog. A lifeboat station (now a private residence) was operated from a beach known as The Cwm to the west of Parrog in the early 20th century.
caption: Newport Castle
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